The Springfield Rotary Club has once again demonstrated its commitment to environmental stewardship and community service by donating a Trex outdoor bench to the Springfield Conservation Committee.
The Springfield Rotary Club has once again demonstrated its commitment to environmental stewardship and community service by donating a Trex outdoor bench to the Springfield Conservation Committee. The bench was installed near the pollinator habitat hillside at Springfield Hospital, following the successful collection of 1,000 pounds of thin film plastics by local residents as part of the Trex Thin Film Plastics Challenge.
This marks the twelfth bench awarded to Springfield through the Trex Recycling Program. The latest collection effort included contributions from several local sources: 45% from the Springfield Town Library, 17% from the Springfield Food Co-op, 13% from Bibens Ace Hardware, and the remainder from Magee Office Products, Springfield Hospital, Casey CDJR, Waterbury’s Factotum Design, and Springfield GMC. Since February 2023, the Springfield Rotary has collected more than 10,146 pounds (over five tons) of plastic film—the approximate weight of an African Elephant.
The Trex Challenge encourages the recycling of materials like grocery and produce bags, bubble wrap, cereal bags, and similar plastics. Once a group collects 1,000 pounds, Trex awards a 48" Yacht Club Bench, made from recycled materials such as milk jugs and water bottles. The collected plastics are upcycled into Trex decking, supporting a circular economy.
Plastic pollution poses serious risks to the environment and wildlife, and thin plastics often can’t be processed through standard curbside recycling due to their tendency to damage sorting equipment. The Trex Challenge offers a creative and impactful alternative.
This latest bench joins others already placed at The Common, Park Street School, North Springfield Bog Trailhead, Main Street, the Springfield Town Library, Elm Street School, and the Springfield Community Players Theater.
Volunteers from the Rotary Club and the Springfield Town Library manage the collection, weighing, and delivery of the plastic to Shaw’s Supermarket, Trex’s nearest participating drop-off location. The Trex collection bin will remain at the Town Library.
Looking ahead, the Rotary Club has already begun work toward earning its next bench, which will be donated to Springfield Parks and Recreation in celebration of the Rotary’s 95th anniversary.
Founded in 1927, the Rotary Club of Springfield is a vibrant organization of more than 40 members dedicated to service at both the local and global levels. Learn more at springfieldvtrotary.org.
